Sony A350/Canon 450D - Worth spending hundreds and hundreds more?

[NeilF]

My girlfriend wants a DSLR for her birthday. She's always wanted to get into photography, but we've never quite got around to getting a DSLR.

Seems there are four obvious choices for her:-
Sony A350 (18-70mm lens) - Around £390
Canon 450D (IS 18-55mm lens) - Around £420
Nikon D90 (DX VR 18-105mm lens) - Around £700
Canon 40D (IS 17-85mm lens) - Around £725

Now the best reviews seem to go to the D90 and 40D, but they're £200-£300 more than the A350 and 450D. Bearing in mind we want to get a (new) camcorder as well, that £300 saving would basically get one!

Now I suspect the camera will not get used to extreme length, instead I suspect she'll dabble when she has the time... So ease of use, and most importantly image quality are top of the list...

Any help would be most appreciated...

[drb5]

Curious about the answers from this myself.

I've been wanting a 40D again, but with so many commenting on the same IQ in the 450D(camerapricebuster says £430 with £50 cashback from Canon), it's better bang-for-buck i reckon...when you consider what secondhand 40D's are getting pricewise anyway.

No comment on the Sony and Nikon i'd by-pass if i had the cash and get the 40D.

[Yandros]

Actually if she wants to dabble, you might be better off looking at a D40/A200 etc. Image quality is not really an issue with ANY of the DSLRs.

[springtide]

Originally Posted by Yandros

Actually if she want's to dabble, you might be better off looking at a D40/A200 etc. Image quality is not really an issue with ANY of the DSLRs.

I completey agree

A D40 or A200, and put the other money left over in the bank until she decides that this is going to be a hobby (and then you can spend it on lenses, flashes etc). Not much point buying more that the basic kit IMO until you've worked if you need anything else.

FYI, the Sony A700 (rather that A350) is comparable to the Nikon D90 and Canon 40D (for around £600)

[anthony566]

My Sony A350 is first class and the 14.2 mp & the best Live View in a DSLR around really made it the one to go for to me.

[Pirate!!]

Of your list, if live view (LV) is an over-riding factor, I would suggest the Alpha A300 over the A350. Then again, if she has petite hands, maybe the A200 would be better suited.

[RobDickinson]

D90/40D are the best cameras being discussed here, but there a lot of money and IMO you'll be happy with one of the entry level ones.

Unless you shoot a lot of sport in which case the 40D mebe worth a punt.

[p1tse]

if you are looking at those, go for a300 body only and then buy a decent lens with the budget left with camcorder in mind and probably pocket some

[Yandros]

You absolutely have to let your girlfriend try them for size/weight too.

Don't be afraid to get the very bottom end model and a kit lens, ie Canon 1000D, Nikon D40, Sony A200. These really really do take extremely good photos, and as Rob says, unless she shoots action stuff, will not be found wanting by a novice. You can always upgrade if she get more serious.

The price of a D90 will almost certainly drop in a year by more than you'll lose on buying a D40 and selling it second hand.

[eviljohn2]

I'd also emphasise that actually trying the units out is the best option. I was in a similar boat a month ago so went to try some out and simply couldn't get my hands around the Canons (which all of my mates have) but found the Nikons comfortable and really intuitive. Specs will never show the differences quite as obviously as I found when handling the cameras.

I also fancied liveview but now have a D60 which does all I want and more and seems to be ace for dabbling with. The D40 or equivalent Canon/Sony model will all do a good job (by most accounts) with different strengths in each but you'll never realise them if you can't make the thing work how you want. At least that's my opinion having been searching for months and now owning for 3 days.

[NeilF]

Originally Posted by p1tse

if you are looking at those, go for a300 body only and then buy a decent lens with the budget left with camcorder in mind and probably pocket some

What would be a good general all-round starter lense then instead of the kit lense?

[NeilF]

Originally Posted by anthony566

My Sony A350 is first class and the 14.2 mp & the best Live View in a DSLR around really made it the one to go for to me.

Do you find you use the Live View much in general people/places photos?

And being one of the slowest FPS cameras listed, do you find this an issue?

[anthony566]

I use Live View a lot when taking family/party photos I also find it very useful for framing. As for the fps speed i have not found this to be an issue for me i have used this to take photos of fast moving objects and for what i was looking for it has performed very very well. im not looking for 5+ fps... and when i am i will upgrade to an A700 body and have not wasted any money on lenses as these will work fine with it. On the point of an all round lens i would go for an A300/A350 body and an 18-250mm as this is a perfect all round lens.

[NeilF]

Originally Posted by anthony566

On the point of an all round lens i would go for an A300/A350 body and an 18-250mm as this is a perfect all round lens.

Ouch... That brings us upto £700 again...

[loz]

There's no single, easy winner...

For out and out PQ - then the 450D and D90 would be top
For performance and robustness - the 40D, and D90
For 'ease of use' - the A350
For cost - the A350 and 450D

On a balance of all those considerations, I would say the 450D is hard to beat. But most people would be happy with any one.

And for someone who hasn't used a DSLR before, the ease of use of the A350 might be a big factor - though some argue the A300 is a better buy as it is cheaper, faster, and the sensor is a bit less noisy.